Private Photograph / Brian Yaugestown Phantoms Personnel File earlier than Michael Mesic Jostles for positioning in entrance of Cayden Casey’s web throughout a November 16 recreation in Youngstown.
When he determined the place he would spend the 2024-25 season, the Youngstown Phantoms, Michael Mesic, had a selection.
His extinguisher to northern Michigan didn’t work. The coaches there after they had been employed, like his teammates, a brand new actuality of faculty sport.
As an alternative of hitting the portal, Mesic thought a return to Ushl would match one of the best. With a yr remaining eligibility on the junior stage, the season would give him the possibility to realize, to discover a new college that suited him higher and to proceed enjoying a top quality hockey.
Mesic was in a position to decide on his vacation spot. Whereas the celebs of Lincoln held their rights, Stars and Phantoms organized an settlement to depart the 5-meters-11 earlier than they slot in Youngstown.
“A fantastic factor for me was that I needed to be one of many (to be) guys. I’ve by no means been like this earlier than and I believed it could be a very good aim to go, ” Mentioned Mesic. “One other aim was to rent at a college I wish to go to and I can efficiently, I hope. I received a few of my objectives and virtually my solely aim left now could be to win Clark Cup. “
He went properly for the messic as a result of he grew to become certainly one of Youngstown’s boys this season. Mesic is presently the third on the crew at 31 factors (11 objectives, 20 assistants) in 37 video games to this point.
The striker spent a lot of the season with striker Adam Benak. Whereas ghosts have a tendency to mix strains typically, Mesic and Benak proceed to be discovered collectively.
They accomplished themselves properly and allowed him to bloom as a participant in ways in which nobody anticipated when he arrived.
“I attempted lots of various things this yr and I’ve at all times been only a type of return to Mesic and Benak enjoying collectively”, “ Mentioned Phantoms coach Ryan Ward. “I feel after I met the 2, they clicked. We tried different issues (however we continued to return). One of many actually attention-grabbing issues in regards to the mesic is that I don’t suppose he has performed a middle in junior hockey or school, however for us this yr, it’s a type of taken within the position of our high heart. It performs in the course of the ice rink to offer (benak) a part of this impact and permit it to be behind the defenders and deal with the house. I feel it was an enormous shock, as I by no means anticipated in one million years that he would play the middle for us and did an excellent, excellent job. “
The return from the faculty stage is an adjustment, however itic believes that the faculty expertise was of nice assist in discovering its place this season.
“It’s helped a lot. In comparison with the primary time in USHL, I really feel that I’m a lot better in all places “,” Mentioned Mesic. “My entire recreation. I’m far more assured. I’ll maintain much more than Puck to do solely extra items and I really feel like I do much more to assist my crew than I did the primary time. “
Mesic was employed at Bentley College earlier this month and is about to leap for season 2025-26.
“He’s the coach workers”, “ Mesic mentioned of what made Bentley match. “He’s in Boston. It’s a great space and I feel they are going to be adequate for the following few years. It was a very good place. “
After taking 5 out of six in the latest street journey, Phantoms return to Covelli Middle this night for the primary recreation of a 3 -week house. Tonight and tomorrow, the ghosts take over Muskegon for 4 essential factors. At the moment, sitting at 55 factors within the standings, Victors on Friday and Saturday placed on Phantoms in a draw with Muskegon for the second place.
With a single aim left to realize for the messic this season, he centered on doing this. This weekend sequence is simply the following step in direction of this aim.
“I feel we began enjoying an excellent hockey right here”, “ Mentioned Mesic. “We’ve just a few actually essential video games. We’ve to play onerous and play our recreation and we should attempt to (end the highest 2 within the convention and) get a pack. If we obtain a guard, I feel we’re very properly configured to run for Clark Cup. “